Gig Recap 现场回顾: 2023楠溪江XIHU ROCK MUSIC FESTIVAL (7.08-7.09)
Gig Recap 现场回顾
2023楠溪江XIHU ROCK MUSIC FESTIVAL
- 2023.7.08-07.09
上个周末，我参加了位于温州附近的楠溪江西湖音乐节，终于品尝到了夏日户外音乐节的美味。两天如旋风般的好音乐，各种新老朋友，整体气氛相当之好。音乐节取得了巨大的成功，在成名乐队的大场面和小乐队的亲密接触之间找到了平衡点，让他们都能有机会绽放属于自己的光彩。太多回忆无法一一分享，但我愿为大家提供一个小小的回顾。
Got in my summer music festival kicks last weekend as I headed out to Nanxi River (outside of Wenzhou) for the XIHU Rock Festival. A whirlwind two days of great music, catching up with friends old and new, and just all around good vibes, the festival was a roaring success - finding that sweet spot between epic and intimate with moments for bands both big and small to shine. Too many memories to share but here’s a little recap.
It’s been a hot minute since my last outdoor music festival experience here in China - if I recall a Strawberry Festival on the outskirts of Beijing a good five years back. Between the lockdowns, starting a family, and plain ol’ fatigue, I just didn’t have the motivation anymore to venture forth into the unknown. But early this summer, I made a promise to myself to get in at least one music festival (perhaps my last too).
Now there are a shit ton of festivals out there - some that never even make it to the finish line - so you really need to know what you’re looking for. Location, prices, and lineup are all priorities - but then there’s everything else - management, stage layout, weather, vendors, and most important, the vibes. If your festival is swimming in ‘bad vibes’ there’s really nothing that can be done about it. You’re screwed.
XIHU Rock seemed to check out a lot of my boxes - located not too far away but far enough from a city to make it interesting; the prices were more than reasonable (a steal at 220rmb per day); and the bands were a solid grab bag of favroites both old and new, particularly when I was able to sneak a peek at the Blind Lobby stage - a tiny tent dedicated to rising talent in the Zhejiang area (and run by local Wenzhou venue Blind Lobby 盲堂 which I heartily recommend anyone to check out if in that city).
I headed out with my accomplice (a China music festival novice which is always fun) last Friday to Wenzhou - the calm before the storm have you - and the perfect chance to explore (albeit quickly) the quaint canal-filled city. It was clear biking around the city at 5pm that the weather was going to be pretty brutal over the weekend. Well over 40 degrees, I felt bad for any band that had to perform before sunset - and for audiences it was equally brutal with water trucks spraying down audiences well into the evening.
Stages were spread out accordingly - with the biggest two - X and H - across the main field from one another - while the smaller DABA stage tucked away behind the main stage and the Blind Lobby Stage adjacent to the main stage - miraculously avoiding most of the sound blowover. Vendors were a mix of local vendors - beer starting at 20rmb and working their way up from there. Food as well, not too shabby price-wise - with a particular burger stand hitting the spot nicely (it seemed to be a hit with just about everyone). Small vendors became a life source - particularly when they stocked up on water. And security - with folks brought in from cities as far as Wuhan - as friendly as I’d seen at any festival. A dip in the pool gave us a second wind for the longggg first night and the camping area was the perfect escape from the noise in-between sets.
But onto the music! Highlights included:
Blind Lobby 友推 Stage
I spent a lot of my time at the Blind Lobby stage the second day - with its finely curated smattering of recent favorites of mine like Jimao 鸡毛 (the best live act out there right now), 河边走 (the best new band this year) and Tardis, a noise pop band from Ningbo I’m excited to have come perform next month -
this was where all the local musicians ended up and for good reason
Shanghai Qiutian
SHQT’s story over the last couple weeks has been a sad reminder of how difficult it is for a foreigner to make China their home - and seeing them both on the big stage and again at sunrise on the grass was bittersweet -
it may not be over for those four but it will never be the same again
N.Y.P.D 南洋派對
The Hong Kong electronic post punk outfit - that felt unruly in the best possible way - a blur of psychedeliaia and punk attitude.
Tongue 舌头 x Lao Dan 老丹
Just a match made in heaven - Lao Dan’s nomadic tendencies accompanying the veteran band’s rustic yet sharp-as-ever sound
Chinese Football
Nothing better and more shameless than indulging in your emo alter ego at a festival — still gets me every time
Omnipotent Youth Society
万能青年旅店
Did I cry immediately at the trumpet intro of Qinhuangdao? You bet your ass I did
And that’s the wrap on XIHU ROCK! It was great to see you all out there! Enjoy me dancing like a maniac at the thirty-two second mark!
Words: Will
Photos: Will
Translation: Xiu
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